Other support links

You may have a medical or personal issue related to the death of your baby that you would like to pursue further. Here we list in alpabetical order links to organisations who specialise in specific areas, whether it be marriage counselling, information on pre-eclampsia or funeral services. We hope you find what you are looking for.

Action on Pre-Eclampsia (APEC) 

Helps and supports women who have had or are worried about pre-eclampsia, HELLP Syndrome and pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). www.apec.org.uk/

Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC)

Information and support for parents throughout antenatal testing and when a significant abnormality is detected in the unborn baby. (Formerly called SATFA)    www.arc-uk.org/

Baby MPS (Mailing Preference Service) online 

Free site where parents can register online to stop or at least reduce baby-related mailings of samples, offers, advertisements etc. www.mpsonline.org.uk/bmpsr/

BLISS the special care baby charity

Support, advice and information for families of babies in intensive care and special care, including bereaved families. www.bliss.org.uk/

British Humanist Association

Has a network of accredited funeral officiants who can help to plan and conduct a non-religious funeral ceremony. www.humanism.org.uk

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

Maintains a register of qualified counsellors and can help you find one in your area. Tel: 0870 443 5252 www.bacp.co.uk

Child Benefit Office

The online claim form for Child Benefit can be accessed at https://esd.dwp.gov.uk/dwp/index.jsp

Hospitals can also obtain small numbers of Child Benefit claim packs from NICO (National Insurance Contributions Office) Stores (Tel: 0191 225 7293)

Child Bereavement Charity

Support, information and resources for bereaved families and for professionals. www.childbereavement.org.uk

The Compassionate Friends 

An organisation of bereaved parents and their families offering understanding, support and encouragement to others after the death of a child or children. www.tcf.org.uk

Contact a Family

Support, information and resources for families whose child is ill or disabled and for parents facing a diagnosis of abnormality during pregnancy.  www.cafamily.org.uk

Cruse Bereavement Care

Support for people bereaved by death, in any way, whatever their age, nationality or belief. Help includes counselling, bereavement support groups and advice or information on practical matters. www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk

DIPEx

Website offering a wide variety of personal experiences of health and illness using real-life interviews and including childbearing loss. Users can watch, listen to or read interviews, find reliable information on treatment choices, and look for sources of support. www.dipex.org/pregnancy

Ectopic Pregnancy Trust 

Support and information for people who have had or been affected by an ectopic pregnancy, including health professionals. www.ectopic.org.uk

Federation of British Cremation Authorities (FBCA)

Organisation of cremation authorities. www.fbca.org.uk

Feileacain (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association of Ireland)

Support for anyone affected by the death of a baby during pregnancy or shortly after birth. www.feileacain.ie

Foot Anstey Solicitors

We are the leading medical law team in the South West providing specialist clinical negligence advice. We provide a high quality, efficient and expert service in a friendly and approachable style.

The clinical negligence team offers advice in relation to a wide range of health-related claims ranging from multi-million pound birth injury compensation claims through to much more modest claims, as well as representation at inquest and court of protection cases.

In handling such cases, the team has a wealth of experience with members of both the Solicitors Regulation Authority and AvMA specialist clinical negligence panels.

The team has good relations with NHS Trusts which facilitates swift and sensible resolution of disputes and has access to leading medical practitioners from across the country to seek expert advice.

In addition to litigating claims to a resolution, the team has expertise in a wide range of alternative dispute resolution methods to mitigate the conflict that can sometimes occur. Call 0800 694 0441  www.footansteyinjury.com

Group B Strep Support

Working to ensure every relevant health professional in the UK is fully informed about how most group B strep (GBS) infections in newborn babies can be prevented. www.gbss.org.uk

Happy Hands

Source of the Babysafe inkless system for taking hand and foot prints. www.happyhands.ws/babysafekit.htm

Infertility Network UK

Advice and support for people dealing with infertility problems and/or facing a life without children. Campaigns for greater understanding of infertility issues and timely and consistent provision of infertility care throughout the UK. www.infertilitynetworkuk.com

Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management ( ICCM) 

Sets ethical professional and social standards for the management of burial, cremation and related services, and provides education and training. (Formerly the ICBA - Institute of Burial and Cremation Administration) www.iccm-uk.com

International Stillbirth Alliance (ISA)

International coalition of organisations dedicated to understanding the causes and prevention of stillbirth. Raises awareness, educates on recommended precautionary practices and facilitates research on stillbirth. www.stillbirthalliance.org

Jobcentre Plus

Online information about Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments and a downloadable form. www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/       

Miscarriage Association

Support and information for those affected by pregnancy loss (including health care professionals). Network of support groups and telephone contacts throughout the UK. www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk

Multiple Births Foundation (MBF)

Support and information for families with twins and higher multiple births, including support around bereavement, and information for professionals.  www.multiplebirths.org.uk

National Association of Funeral Directors

Advice, a code of practice and addresses for people planning a funeral or looking for a funeral director. www.nafd.org.uk/

National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM)

Advice and addresses for people who want a memorial stone. www.namm.org.uk

Natural Death Centre

Advice for families and others on burial in a woodland or nature reserve site and on organising informal and environmentally-friendly funerals. www.naturaldeath.org.uk

NHS Choices

NHS website giving advice on a range of health issues, including stillbirth. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Stillbirth/Pages/Definition.aspx

Now I lay me down to sleep 

An American website that puts bereaved parents in touch with professional photographers who will take photographs of their babies at little or no cost. Site shows examples of photographs of babies of all gestations. Click on Find a photographer > United Kingdom for a short list of UK photographers. www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/

Obstetric Cholestasis (OC) Support

Offers support and information to women who have suffered from OC or suspect they might have the condition. www.ocsupport.org.uk

Outer Temple Chambers

Foot Anstey works in partnership with Outer Temple Chambers who offer specialist advice and advocacy in all aspects of healthcare law.  Their team of barristers have particular expertise in dealing with claims arising from stillbirth and neonatal death.  www.outertemple.com

Patient Advice and Liaison Services ( PALS )

Provide information, advice and support to help patients and their carers. Information on complaints procedures for Department of Health, the NHS and Social Services. www.pals.nhs.uk

Perinatal Institute for maternal and child health

Aims to reduce perinatal mortality and morbidity by distilling and disseminating the evidence for best practice in perinatal care and promoting its implementation. www.perinatal.nhs.uk/

Plain English Campaign

Free downloadable guides to writing clear information and other material that everyone can understand. www.plainenglish.co.uk/guides.htm

Registry Offices for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland  

England and Wales www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content         

Scotland www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/regscot    

Northern Ireland www.groni.gov.uk/index.htm

RELATE - National Marriage Guidance Council 

Confidential counselling for couples, families or individual partners experiencing difficulties in relationships. www.relate.org.uk

Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) 

Offers information, support and advice to people with sight problems. www.rnib.org.uk

Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID)

Offers a range of services for deaf and hard of hearing people and provides information and support on all aspects of deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus. www.rnid.org.uk

Samaritans

Available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide. Telephone 08457 909090 for the cost of a local call. Also face-to-face support. www.samaritans.org

Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity

Support and information for anyone affected by the death of a baby, before or after birth. National helpline, local parent-led support, literature and online support. Works to improve care when a baby dies and promotes research to reduce the loss of babies' lives. www.uk-sands.org

SHAP Working Party on World Religions in Education

For a calendar of dates of religious festivals - updated each year. www.shap.org

TAMBA Bereavement Support Group

For families who have lost one or more children from a multiple birth, whether antenatally, postnatally, or at any age subsequently. www.tamba-bsg.org.uk

(Part of the Twins and Multiple Births Association - TAMBA - www.tamba.org.uk)

TinyLife

Northern Ireland's premature and vulnerable baby charity, dedicated to reducing premature birth, illness, disability and death in babies born there. www.tinylife.org.uk

UK National Screening Committee

UK National Screening Committee,  Information on antenatal screening with leaflets in different languages (English site) www.screening.nhs.uk/an/index.htm

Sgrinio Cyn Geni Cymru / Antenatal Screening Wales - General (Welsh site) www.screeningservices.org.uk/asw/public/about/about.asp

Screening Choices: learning resource for health professionals offering antenatal and newborn care www.screening.nhs.uk/cpd/webfolder/web_nsc.html

Winston's Wish

Helps bereaved children and young people rebuild their lives after a family death. Offers practical support and guidance to families, professionals and anyone concerned about a grieving child. www.winstonswish.org.uk

Working Families

Helpline and website offer free advice on all maternity rights after stillbirth or neonatal death. www.workingfamilies.org.uk